Electric signal apparatus



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H. G. FISKE.

Electric Signal Apparatus.

No. 229,529. Patented July 6,1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

HENRY G. FISKE, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 229,529, dated July 6,1880.

Application filed March 4, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Gr. FIsKE, ofSpringfield, Massachusetts, have invented new and useful ElectricSignaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric signaling apparatus fortelephone and telegraph lines in which it is desirable to callseparately one out of several stations without disturbing all on theline; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide amagnetic ratchet with means for controlling the sounding of the call orhell; second, to combine in one magnet the motive power to operate theratohet-wheel and the call; and, third, to make a delicate and simpleratchet-lever pivot or hearing at the magnet end.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, and showsthe apparatus inclosed in a small box, the cover of which has beenremoved, and with it a circuit-breaking key, the bell, and bellhammerprotector, the relative location of the two latter being shown by thelarge dotted circle and the double right-angled dotted lines outside ofthe box surrounding the bell-hammer. The upper section of the castingwhich supports the ratchet -wheel shaft is also removed for the purposeof showing the arrangement of the bell-controlling apparatus. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of my invention with its containing-box, the side ofwhich latter being removed to shown the apparatus within; and Fig. 3 isa transverse section of an end elevation of the box, the bell-armaturelever, and of the bell-hammer protector.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The magnet varies a little from the ordinary construction, and consistsof an ironcore wound with insulated wire, and is marked A, this partbeing simply a bar electro-magnet; but with this I combine the iron barB an d the iron or steel armature of the bell-hammer lever, (marked 1),)that being adjusted to operate more easily than the ratchet-lever, whichis marked 0, for

' the purpose of adapting it to vibrate with weaker or more rapidelectric pulsations. The magnet is therefore at first only a barelectro- (No model.)

magnet; but its action on the lever D unites it with the bar B, and thusforms a horseshoe electro-magnet, which is more powerful than the simplebar-magnet, and will, of course, t

have a stronger influence on the lever O, and admit of a greaterdifference of tension between the two levers.

The lever (J is hinged on B, with a V-shape bearing, and secured thereby the aid of the spring E and a screw passing through an oblong slot inthe spring, and thence into B, and I am enabled to adjust the tension ofthe spring by the aid of the said screw and slot; but for greaterconvenience I adapt the spring to be adjusted by the aid of the screw F.

The lever C may be held in the V-shape bearing sidewise by a pin or anysuitable projections on the sides of the hearing.

The coil A and bar B are unitedly held in their respective places by theclamp G H and the screws which secure them to the box.

The lovers 0 D, as a matter of simple construction, are each made tocombine armature and lever and D its withdrawing-spring in one. 0 isprovided with means to adapt it to revolve the toothed wheel I, and withit the disk J, both of which latter are shown arranged rigidly upon onecommon shaft. This shaft is, as a matter of convenience, made hollow,and a wire slipped through it and the upper and lower arms, a a, of thecasting or frame K.

The periphery of J is provided with a slot, b, shown in positionopposite the plunger 0, which is adapted to permit the said plunger toplay into it when in that position, and may be quite deep, or of justsufficient depth to check the plunger from enabling the bell-hammer d toreach the bell M with a single pulsation, the plunger 0 being arrangedin connection with the lever D and the bell-hammer d. The latter issecured to the outer end of an elastic arm, 6, which is an extension ofthe lever D, and is adapted to vibrate in response to electricalpulsations.

The outer end of the arm 6, with the hammer d, being outside of the boxL, the arm is liable to get bent out of place, to avoid which I providethe protector g, which may be made of Wire or any suitable material, andsurround the arm or the hammer on three sides at least,

but is adapted to give the hammer free play within the inclosure, thebell M answering to protect it on the fourth side.

The protector is preferably secured to the box very near to the hammer.

The arm h is arranged to receive the thrust of the lever I) when theplunger 0 is playing into the slot 1), but may be dispensed with if theplunger bottoms in the disk J, or is provided with other means toregulate the throw of said plunger, and with it the bell-hammer. In casethere is no such stop or check the hammer will simply strike the bellonce for as many slots (like 1;) as there may be in the disk J. When theslot in the disk is turned past the plunger, the latter will then meetthe outer surface of said disk in its forward movement, and will thusprevent the hammer from reaching the hell, even when rapidly vibrating.

When the single stroke of the bell, as above described, is notobjectionable, the apparatus may then be adjusted to operate with twobut teries, one weaker than the other, the stronger to operate theratchet, and, of course, with it the lever I), ringing the bell once foreach slot in the disk J. The weaker battery may then be used to operatethe bell either slowly or rapidly; but when a single current ofelectricity is used the pulsations which are used to operate the bellmust be sufficiently rapid to obviate operating the ratchet by them.

The plunger 0 is guided in place by passing through a slot. in the frameK.

The bell M is secured to the cover of the box L directly over theratchet-wheel shaft, that being the most convenient location, whichenables me to bring said box and bell within a very small space; but byarranging the bell in this place it is then in the way of extending theratchet-wheel shaft for the purpose of securing to it a pointer to turnover or in close proximity with a dial by which to sec the position ofthe ratchet-wheel; and to overcome this 1 make a hole through the bellsufiiciently large to admit of the free passage and turning of thepointer-shaft and am thus enabled to secure the dial and pointerdirectly over the bell and bring the whole within a very small space.

By a slight additional expense and arrangiug the bell centrally over theratchet-wheel shaft the hole may be made lengthwise through the postwhich supports the bell, thus giving the bell and dial a more centraland compact appearance.

The key, consisting of the lever N and the raised strip 0, is providedwith the usual platinum points, and is arranged to break the electriccircuit, for the purpose of enabling the main office to operate theratchets throughout the line, and so obtain access to and call anystation on the line with the aid of a breakpiece adapted to operaterapidly the vibrating bell at that station. The key N 0 is also adaptedto use in calling the main otiice from one of the stations.

As this apparatus is especially intended for the purpose of calling froma central or main ofiice one or more stations out of several on a linewithout disturbing any of the others, the apparatus at the main officewill necessarily be of a somewhat different nature, as at this point allthe signals from the stations should be heard and so the disk J, plunger0, and the arm h mayall be dispensed with; but,of course, it will benecessary to provide the ratchetwheel shaft with the extension orpointer shaft j, and have a pointer secured to its top or end andarranged to rotate in close proximity to a dial, substantially as hereindescribed, for the purpose of enabling that office to make the propercall and that oflice will need some form of break-piece, adapted todivide the electricity into short and rapid impulses, for the purpose ofringing whatever bell is desired. Any of the well-known forms willanswer for this purpose; or the key N 0 may be adapted to accomplishthis object. The battery is also supposed to he at the main oiiice. Eachstation, then, should be provided with simply the apparatus shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, without the shaftj or the hole 5 in the hell, buthaving the slot b set to a different tooth ot' the ratchetwheel for eachstation.

The operation then will he as follows: The apparatus being arranged asdescribed, and the proper electric connections being made, (forconvenience I say there are eight stations and a main oflice on theline,) the operator at the main oilice wishes to call No. 5. He looks atthe pointer and finds it at, say, No. 7. He then breaks the circuittwice rather slowly, and the pointer, moving one number to each break,then stands at No. 0. Five more breaks then bring it up to N0. 5. Now,as each station has the slot b in the disk J set to correspond with itsnumber on the ratchet-wheel, the apparatus of station No. 5 will befound nearly ready to allow a free play of the plungcr 0, so that whenthe operator at the main oflice divides the electricity into short andrapid impulses the magnet will no longer retain the ratchet-lever,andit, in beingdrawn away by the action of the spring E, gives theratchet-wheel another bitch, and brings the slot b in front of the nowvibrating plunger 0, its scope of vibration being now increased, and thehammer (1 thus brought nearer the bell M. It, after a few vibrations,acquires sufficient momentum to reach and strike the bell violently andrapidly. The operator at the station then replies by simply breaking thecircuit with the key N O. This, of course, stops his own bell and thatof the main office, the latter having been ringing in response to everybreak and closing of the circuit. The main-ofiice operator will thenstop the vibrating break-piece, which will give the electricity its fullpower upon the magnetic ratchets. The operator will then proceed to makeknown his wants through the telephone or otherwise.

When one of the stations wishes to call the main oflice, the operatorsimply breaks the circnit with the key N 0 a few times, and by so doingrings the main-office bell once for each break.

It will be seen from the foregoing that many of the parts may be variedsomewhat in shape and material without seriously affecting theefficiency of the apparatus-as, for instance, the bar B may be made ofother material than iron or steel, and still answer to pivot the leverupon and secure D E in place. If E be made of steel, it may be broughtin contact with D, and the two will then take the place magnetically ofiron or steel in the bar B, and so retain nearly if not quite the fullstrength of the magnet. The armatures and levers may be made in separateparts without harm, and may be pivoted in any suitable manner, ifprovided with suitable means to draw them away at one end of the leversfrom the magnet, springs being used in the arrangement described. Thekey N 0 may be of any desirable form, and the single coil A may bereplaced with two or more coils and separate magnets arranged to operatethe ratchet and the bell-hammer, and the ratchet may be of any of thewell-known forms, adapted to rotate the disk J.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the disk J, having the slot b, with the plunger 0and the regulating-stop h or its equivalent, the disk being adapted torotate with the aid of an electromagnetic ratchet and the plunger tovibrate in connection with an electro-magnetic bellhammer, and all beingarranged to so adjust and control the movements of the hammer that itcannot reach and strike the bell except when the plunger is vibratingrapidly into the disk and is suddenly checked in its forward movementsby the stop h or its equivalent, for the purposes herein substantiallyshown and described.

2. The combination of the bar electro-magnet A with the bar B and thearmatures of the ratchet-lever O and the bell-hammer lever D, when thelatter are arranged at the opposite ends of A and the lever O is adaptedto rotate the ratchet-wheel I and the lever D to operate the bellhammer, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a ratchet-lever, the V-shaped pivot or bearing, in combinationwith the spring E, when the latter is arranged to retain the leveragainst its bearing, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of an electromagnetic ratchet with anelectro-magnetic bell or call, when the former is adjusted to operate inresponse to only comparatively slow electrical impulses and is adaptedto mechanically control the striking of the hammer on the bell or call,and the latter is adjusted to operate only in response to severalrapidly succeeding electrical impulses, all being arranged for thepurpose of operating the ratchet and striking the bell or callindependently of each other upon the same electric circuit,substantially as shown and described.

HENRY G. FISKE. Witnesses:

D. P. CowL, J. 1?. Town.

